Day 1, Saturday, Arrive in Madrid

You will be met and transferred to your hotel. The day is at leisure to begin exploring. Later, join your fellow travelers and your tour director for a welcome reception. (WR)

Day 2, Sunday, in Madrid

We begin with a guided half-day city tour of Madrid. Our drive takes us through the Gran Vía and the Passeo de Castellana, past the Plaza de España, Plaza de Oriente, Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Atocha Station, the fountain of Neptune, Cibeles fountain, the Bullring, the Santiago Bernabeu soccer stadium, and many more. The afternoon is at leisure. (B)

Optional tour: Prado Museum

Day 3, Monday, in Madrid: Excursion to Toledo

We visit Toledo, a city with a wealth of monuments. It is known as the “city of the three cultures”, because Christians, Arabs and Jews lived here together for centuries. During our guided tour we visit the Santo Tome Church and the Synagogue of Santa María. From Toledo we return to Madrid where the afternoon is at leisure. (B)

Optional tour: Flamenco show with dinner

Day 4, Tuesday, to Bilbao

We depart for Bilbao. On the way, we stop in Burgos. Upon arrival S/S of Burgos with a local guide including a visit to the Cathedral. There is time for lunch on your own. From there, we continue to Bilbao where we have a tasting of local tapas called pintxos. (B,D)

Day 5, Wednesday, in Bilbao

On our visit to Bilbao, we see the vibrant old town with many shops, squares, and typical Basque tavernas. We enter the Guggenheim Museum, an architectural masterpiece designed by Frank Gehry. The collection includes large-scale and site-specific art by such contemporary artists as Jeff Koons and Willem de Kooning. The remainder of the day is free. (B)

Day 6, Thursday, to Pamplona

After breakfast, we depart for San Sebastian. En route, we visit Getaria, a charming Basque coastal village. Upon arrival in San Sebastian, we see the Maria Cristina Hotel. It is here, at the Kursaal, that the film festival takes place. We also see La Concha beach, a crescent-shaped urban seaboard. In the afternoon we arrive in Pamplona. Dinner is served later that night. (B, D)

Day 7, Friday, to Barcelona

After breakfast, we have a half-day guided sightseeing tour of Pamplona featuring the Ciudadela, the City Walls, parks, and gardens. We will hear about the ‘Running of the Bulls’ race, part of the San Fermin festival. From Pamplona, we continue to Zaragoza for lunch on your own. Later that afternoon, we arrive in Barcelona and the rest of the day is at leisure. (B)

Day 8, Saturday, in Barcelona

Our guided half-day sightseeing tour includes Barcelona’s most important artistic sights: Gaudi’s Batlló, Casa Milá, the Cathedral Sagrada Familia, and Guell Park, declared an artistic monument and mankind’s heritage by UNESCO. In the afternoon you are free to explore more on your own. Join your fellow travelers and your tour director for the farewell dinner. (B, D)

Day 9, Sunday, depart Barcelona